I lost track of time. Weeks? Months? I had become a junkie willing to do anything to get her fix, the collar around my neck no longer weighed so much. The raiders shaved my head and added some tattoos to my body. To them, I was their pet. Who had I become? A shadow of who I was.

 

 

 

          On a nasty rainy day, I got a special assignment. To serve the people of Diamond City. It was the first time I'd been this far from the old shack. The man who had kidnapped me was in charge of escorting me and making sure I did the job right. 

 

 

 

          "Listen Vaultslave, when we get to town, I'll explain what you need to do. If you do it right, you'll have a chance to come back. Trust me, it's what's best for you."

Without realizing it, the rain washed over me slightly. I was busy thinking about my next dose of Jet, if this was the opportunity to get even more...

 

 

 

          Diamond City... A pre-war stadium that served as the main city in the Commonwealth lands. I remembered seeing a baseball game in those days... Old memories from the past always hurt a little.

 

 

 

           Once inside, the man led me to a quiet area.

"You don't look like the same girl you did a few months ago. I still see that flame in your eyes. The one of wanting to escape and take off that collar. If you succeed in these few jobs, I will set you free. You have my word."

 

 

 

            I was led to the office of the head of security. This man had to get me a permit to be able to move and work on the street without problems. I bowed to him.

"So you are the new girl. Broken for some time right? I'll take care of your permit. The rules are simple: do your job. Earn your caps. Give me a slice. You try anything, you end up in the hole. And trust me, you don't want to go there."

 

 

 

          "Well get up and show me the goods."

I stood up and obeyed.

"Mmh... Still a decent body. However, you can throw away those clothes. And a little grooming wouldn't hurt either. Wait in the jail cell until I do the paperwork."

 

 

 

            In the cell, I tried to think about what I had been told. He didn't seem to be lying about my desire to be free. If I had the chance, I had to take it. I would do anything to get rid of this drug craving.

 

 

 

            I waited a long time. I was afraid to end up here alone against the city guards. They were better equipped and tougher than the raiders I served. Doing this job right would earn me my freedom, no way I could fail.

 

 

 

            I washed up and put on some new skimpy clothes. I was even allowed to wear shoes, the first time since my captivity. I got used to living barefoot and even totally naked. I was not ashamed of my body but rather of how it was treated. The pain became secondary.

"Hi honey, are you looking for a good time? I could take you on an all-night trip!"

 

 

 

          "Hey gentleman, want me to keep you company for tonight? I can do anything you wish."

It was a long and rather well paid shift. The city's head of security got his cut and everything else to the man who was going to set me free one day.

 

 

 

            A few days later, I was taken for a ride with the master of the Corvega factory and some of his men. He tore off my clothes and forced me to act like a dog.

"Good pet, look how strong we are in this world. Guys, loot them all and let's go home."

 

          The men took me to an abandoned store in Lexington. They tied me up with ropes and let their robot watch me. I was not secure. I still needed patience before I could run away.

 

 

 

            A few weeks later, everything almost came to an end. The Jet, the abuse, my body couldn't take it anymore. I could see the influence of the raiders diminishing. Not as strong and united as before. They were using more drugs and taking out their frustration on the slaves. In a way, it weaned me off. I didn't think about the Jet anymore and it was going to free me from this life.

 

 

 

            I returned to Diamond City where I worked. Too many clients, not enough time to recover. I passed out and was taken to a clinic. The two women who ran it were not supposed to take care of the slaves but for a favor... They were willing to treat me in exchange for studying my body. What was left of it.

 

 

 

          "A strange specimen. After all your body has been through, it's a miracle its still functional. I notice some abitlites that don't exist in the Wastelands, as if you came from before the war. Anyway, that's not possible, you're far too well preserved for a 200 years old woman!"

If only she knew... I was blindfolded, I wasn't supposed to see how my miracle cure was created. 

 

 

 

          That was the day. The nameless man came to pick me up, accompanied by his robot eyebot.

"Listen carefully. We're going north. You have one last job to do before you can be free again. Let's go and stay close to me, the collar still works."

 

 

 

          "Do you remember this place? This is where we picked you up. In this trailer, there is a farmer's daughter. Her family was killed in a raid and she is the only survivor. Your job is simple. Kill her. I'll say you burned to death in an explosion or something like that. No one will know and you can start over somewhere else. Leave this place, you've seen what it's like."

 

 

 

          "Do I really have to kill this girl? I've never done this in my life, I don't know if I can do it..."

"You have no other choice. It's either that or stay a slave until you die. Behind you are the clothes I gave you the first time we met. I'll give you half an hour."

 

 

 

            I went into the trailer. There was a girl tied up, scared. She looked lost, probably because of what had just happened in her life. When she raised her head, she spoke to me:

"Please ma'am help me! I have nothing left, I want to get away from here, please set me free."

I looked at her, still undecided what to do with her.

 

 

 

          And then I thought about everything I've been through these past few months. All the horrible things that have happened to me. The reason I was still alive was because I vowed to everything I could do to survive.

"I'm so sorry. You don't want to live the life I have lived. You don't deserve this. I don't want to do it either but I don't have a choice..."

I punched her in the face and used the switchblade stuck in the computer to kill her quickly.

 

          "It's done. Now set me free."

"Finally you have what it takes to live in this world. It looks like your tamed life is coming to an end. I'm leaving the area, you should do the same, give yourself time to forget and heal, even if it won't be easy. The robot will take care of your tattoos and the collar. Your belongings from your capture are in the small shed. Farewell, vault dweller."

 

         And so ended my travels as a slave in the Commonwealth. I was exhausted and for the first time, I was happy about it. I could get out of here, make my own life. And when the time was right, I would take my revenge of all those raiders who dared to lay their hands on me.